Outstanding teaching and learning...
by Monika Hrušková
During the first preparation week in August there was a training day, delivered by Mr Steven Burnage who had travelled from the UK to meet and further train all our teachers. Besides positive energy, he also brought with him a number of useful teaching tips. He led a training session called ‘Outstanding Learning and Teaching’ focused on both lesson planning and effective delivery, as well as the student learning process.
He quite rightly pointed out that teachers are inclined to focus perhaps more on teaching and less on childrens’ actual learning.
Let me state here some interesting points I took away from the training and which might be useful to both teacher and parents.
We should all remember the number 20 and 80! In a more traditional teaching model the teacher, who is often at the centre of the lesson, delivers 80% of the teaching, with 20% active participation on the side of learners. It was suggested that this should be swapped. Interestingly, the evidence would suggest that 80% of learning may be forgotten in a more traditional setting as opposed to a mere 20% in the learner-centred model. These numbers show how important it is to focus on active learning.
Here is a well known quote from Confucius, who suggested that “I hear I forget. I see I remember. I try I understand”. If you do not believe then try to learn, for instance, the cha-cha steps by listening to someone competent explaining how to dance, then watch someone dance and finally try it for yourself (ideally with the help of someone skilled) Well…. assess for yourself what is the most effective way.
Finally I would like to mention that if we want to support our kids in making progress, we need to pitch our teaching at the right level for all. Not too difficult and not too easy. We should avoid talks that children cannot yet comprehend. At the same time the learning should be meaningful and yet not overly focused on what students already know.
I wish for us all to find the right balance between all of the above factors which can influence the learning process for our children.
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Jolly Phonics is an engaging way to teach children pre -reading and pre -writing skills using phonics. Phonics is the teaching of the sounds that letters make, rather than the names of letters that are taught in the alphabet, because it is the sounds that are useful for reading and writing, not the names. These sounds are taught in a systematic way, alongside all of the skills needed for being a fluent reader and writer in future. Jolly Phonics also teaches all of this in a fun and engaging way, through characters, stories, actions, songs and games! To read more about Jolly Phonics, clickhere.
ORT is a reading scheme which has been developed to help children learn to read from the age of 4. This scheme is used by a vast majority of preschools and schools in the UK and around the world.ORT includes popular characters and illustrations such as Biff, Chip and Kipper, Floppy, Wordless Stories and easy regular word books to capture children’s imagination and interest and help them develop their pre reading skills. It is an excellent way to practise the skills learned through the Jolly Phonics Programme..
Cambridge Primary ENGLISH promotes an enquiry-based approach, developing learners’ confidence, creativity and intellectual engagement. Learners develop English skills that they can apply to a range of different purposes and audiences in everyday situations and in study.
We teach English as a first language. Pupils that are only starting to learn English or need some additional support are allocated to our intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) programme.
More about Cambridge Primary EnglishCambridge Primary MATHEMATICS focuses on principles, patterns, systems, functions and relationships so that learners can apply their mathematical knowledge and develop a holistic understanding of the subject. Knowing your times tables facts without practical application and without developing alongside some good problem solving skills is not that helpful - in our school, we make sure our pupils know why they are learning it and how they can use the specific knowledge and skill.
More about Cambridge Primary MathsThis subject develops the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication. We focus on developing pupils’ transferable skills that will be essential for success in their other subjects, higher education and work life. Pupils work on ‘challenges’ throughout the year. These can include but are not limited to topics such as:
Ty mohou mimo jiné zahrnovat témata jako například:
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